Feba Radio
Encyclopedia
Feba Radio is a broadcasting network. It is driven by Christian values rather than by government or commercial aims. It was established in 1959 in UK as the Far Eastern Broadcasting Associates (FEBA, later known as Feba Radio) - associated with Far East Broadcasting Company
(FEBC) operating in USA and Philippines
and the Far East Broadcasting Associates of India (FEBAI).
and identified Seychelles
as a promising location to build an international shortwave transmitting station for this purpose.
Seychelles was a British crown colony, and in 1968 Feba Radio (UK) was incorporated as a charity and a company with the primary aim of planning, building and operating a radio
station there. It was unique in having the antennas built over a lagoon 1 km offshore. The station was in many ways modelled on FEBC-USA's station in Manila, providing for multi-lingual programme production close to the station. Most of Feba's activity was in Seychelles
, as a foreign company, with a small support operation in UK.
In 1970 Feba Radio (UK) began regular shortwave broadcasts from their station in Seychelles
using temporary equipment. The next four years saw the development of studios, offices, housing, transmitters, and the offshore "reef" antenna system. The "oil crisis" during this period seriously increased electricity cost and heightened the need for good strategic planning. Thereafter milestones in developing the Feba Radio network were often linked to international conferences held roughly every two years.
In 1976, June, international conference in Seychelles at a time when the nation of Seychelles gained independence and the offshore antennas were approved for use after a two-year delay, so the temporary antennas were dismantled and transmitted power levels were increased to 100 kW. Feba Seychelles' schedule was expanding to cover Southwest Asia
, the Middle East
and Africa
. An English news service was introduced with the intention of expanding that into other languages.
In April 1979, an international conference was held in the newly-leased UK office in Addlestone. For various reasons several key staff were repatriated to UK and began to operate a "headquarters" office there.
In November 1981, an international conference in Mussoree, India, resolved that Feba should increase its role in programme production, rather than simply broadcasting other organisations' programmes. This was to be done by staff in the listening areas, not by moving them to Seychelles, and provision was made for up to 50% of each programme service to be "in-house" production.
In 1984, May, international conference in Seychelles again. Feba was challenged to expand into a second large shortwave station in Sierra Leone but instead decided to focus on improving programming. There followed a decade of vigorous activity.
In 1986, June, international conference in Flevohof, Nederlands, during the first ICMC (International Christian Media Convention). With other major Christian broadcasters, Feba entered into the ambitious "World by 2000" commitment to enable everyone to hear about Christianity on the radio in a language that they could understand.
In 1988, Sep, international conference in Singapore.
In 1991, Sep, international conference in Sheffield, UK, joint with FEBC-USA's partners.
In 1994, Oct, international conference in Hove, UK. There was an attempt to move away from the idea of Feba UK being "headquarters" and to try to make each national operation as autonomous as possible despite the practicalities of centralising the schedule of broadcasting through the limited facilities (essentially the anteanna coverage) of the one station in Seychelles and optimising it's use cost-effectively.
In 1996, Jan, international conference in Tagaytay, Philippines.
In 1996 the government of Seychelles gave Feba early warning that their East Coast land reclamation activity was likely to bring development which was incompatible with continuing operation of Feba's station within 5 years. As it happened the recent end of propaganda broadcasting associated with the Cold War and apartheid meant that surplus shortwave transmission capability was beginning to be marketed attractively in Feba's area. This stimulated Feba to consider two things: more of an emphasis on "people with something to say" rather than on the nuts and bolts of operating a radio station; and creation of an international Feba structure instead of one depending on Seychelles as a hub.
In 1998, May, international conference in Worthing, UK.
Around 1999 tightening regulation of charities in UK caused Feba to seriously change direction regarding international structure. This was essentially so that Feba Radio (UK) could demonstrate good accountability for the use of funds raised in UK which were handed to Feba staff in other countries to spend. This second attempt at an international structure became very unwieldy.
In 2000, Feb, international conference in Larnaca, Cyprus, joint with FEBC-USA's partners.
In 2002, Feb, international conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In 2003 the Seychelles station was closed. Feba Radio continues to use radio
in many ways in the region.
In 2004, Jan, international conference in Bali, Indonesia, joint with FEBC-USA's partners.
In 2006, Jan, international conference in Pretoria.
In 2008, Jan, international conference in High Leigh, UK, joint with FEBC-USA's partners. Feba-UK began working with a third, compromise, international structure based on agreements with each partner which are tailored to the requirements of each partnership rather than one-size-fits-all.
1975 Kenya
1975 Lebanon
1986 Zimbabwe
1992 Mozambique
1997 South Africa
Far East Broadcasting Company
Far East Broadcasting CompanyFounded:1945 First broadcast:June 4, 1948Daily broadcasts:650+ hoursLanguages:149Webcasts:...
(FEBC) operating in USA and Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and the Far East Broadcasting Associates of India (FEBAI).
History
Initially Feba Radio (UK) brought together individuals in UK who were interested in supporting what FEBC-USA was doing. FEBC-USA had difficulty reaching audiences in North IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and identified Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
as a promising location to build an international shortwave transmitting station for this purpose.
Seychelles was a British crown colony, and in 1968 Feba Radio (UK) was incorporated as a charity and a company with the primary aim of planning, building and operating a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station there. It was unique in having the antennas built over a lagoon 1 km offshore. The station was in many ways modelled on FEBC-USA's station in Manila, providing for multi-lingual programme production close to the station. Most of Feba's activity was in Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
, as a foreign company, with a small support operation in UK.
In 1970 Feba Radio (UK) began regular shortwave broadcasts from their station in Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
using temporary equipment. The next four years saw the development of studios, offices, housing, transmitters, and the offshore "reef" antenna system. The "oil crisis" during this period seriously increased electricity cost and heightened the need for good strategic planning. Thereafter milestones in developing the Feba Radio network were often linked to international conferences held roughly every two years.
In 1976, June, international conference in Seychelles at a time when the nation of Seychelles gained independence and the offshore antennas were approved for use after a two-year delay, so the temporary antennas were dismantled and transmitted power levels were increased to 100 kW. Feba Seychelles' schedule was expanding to cover Southwest Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. An English news service was introduced with the intention of expanding that into other languages.
In April 1979, an international conference was held in the newly-leased UK office in Addlestone. For various reasons several key staff were repatriated to UK and began to operate a "headquarters" office there.
In November 1981, an international conference in Mussoree, India, resolved that Feba should increase its role in programme production, rather than simply broadcasting other organisations' programmes. This was to be done by staff in the listening areas, not by moving them to Seychelles, and provision was made for up to 50% of each programme service to be "in-house" production.
In 1984, May, international conference in Seychelles again. Feba was challenged to expand into a second large shortwave station in Sierra Leone but instead decided to focus on improving programming. There followed a decade of vigorous activity.
In 1986, June, international conference in Flevohof, Nederlands, during the first ICMC (International Christian Media Convention). With other major Christian broadcasters, Feba entered into the ambitious "World by 2000" commitment to enable everyone to hear about Christianity on the radio in a language that they could understand.
In 1988, Sep, international conference in Singapore.
In 1991, Sep, international conference in Sheffield, UK, joint with FEBC-USA's partners.
In 1994, Oct, international conference in Hove, UK. There was an attempt to move away from the idea of Feba UK being "headquarters" and to try to make each national operation as autonomous as possible despite the practicalities of centralising the schedule of broadcasting through the limited facilities (essentially the anteanna coverage) of the one station in Seychelles and optimising it's use cost-effectively.
In 1996, Jan, international conference in Tagaytay, Philippines.
In 1996 the government of Seychelles gave Feba early warning that their East Coast land reclamation activity was likely to bring development which was incompatible with continuing operation of Feba's station within 5 years. As it happened the recent end of propaganda broadcasting associated with the Cold War and apartheid meant that surplus shortwave transmission capability was beginning to be marketed attractively in Feba's area. This stimulated Feba to consider two things: more of an emphasis on "people with something to say" rather than on the nuts and bolts of operating a radio station; and creation of an international Feba structure instead of one depending on Seychelles as a hub.
In 1998, May, international conference in Worthing, UK.
Around 1999 tightening regulation of charities in UK caused Feba to seriously change direction regarding international structure. This was essentially so that Feba Radio (UK) could demonstrate good accountability for the use of funds raised in UK which were handed to Feba staff in other countries to spend. This second attempt at an international structure became very unwieldy.
In 2000, Feb, international conference in Larnaca, Cyprus, joint with FEBC-USA's partners.
In 2002, Feb, international conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In 2003 the Seychelles station was closed. Feba Radio continues to use radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
in many ways in the region.
In 2004, Jan, international conference in Bali, Indonesia, joint with FEBC-USA's partners.
In 2006, Jan, international conference in Pretoria.
In 2008, Jan, international conference in High Leigh, UK, joint with FEBC-USA's partners. Feba-UK began working with a third, compromise, international structure based on agreements with each partner which are tailored to the requirements of each partnership rather than one-size-fits-all.
Feba Radio registered in other countries
1974 Pakistan1975 Kenya
1975 Lebanon
1986 Zimbabwe
1992 Mozambique
1997 South Africa